Yahoo Sued Over Dealings With Chinese Communists

J.J. Jackson* | April 22, 2007

Yahoo is finding itself in legal hot water over assisting Chinese authorities in identifying an Internet user accused of writing “subversive” messages about the country’s government.

Yu Ling, wife of Wang Xiaoning, sued the company in US District Court for the Northern District of California, accusing Yahoo of violations of Alien Tort Claims Act and the Torture Victims Protection Act.

The complaint says that both were “subjected to grave violations of some of the most universally recognized standards of international law … for exercising their right of freedom of speech, association, and assembly, at the hands of Defendants through Chinese officials acting under color of law in the People’s Republic of China.”

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While it was soundly criticized for doing so, Yahoo has defended itself by saying it was following the laws of the country. Its agreements to operate within China dictate that it must turn over information on those who may be using its services for unlawful purposes.

That’s a great defense there Yahoo. Ranks right up there with “I didn’t really want to gas and burn the Jews, but the NAZIs said I had to!”

Sometimes you have to stand up for what is right. If that means not abiding by the laws the Communist Chinese put in place to oppress the Chinese people and lose a little bit of money because they won’t let you operate in their country so be it.

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